Crane collapses on Wollongong’s Builders Club
An entire construction site had to be shut when a huge crane came crashing down onto the roof of Wollongong Builders Club sparking investigations by SafeWork NSW and construction unions.
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CFMEU union representatives say it was lucky no one was seriously hurt when a crane collapsed and crashed into part of Wollongong’s Builders Club on Monday morning.
Union officials say it was lucky someone wasn’t killed or seriously injured, after 130 tonne crane tipped and fell onto a Wollongong club this morning.
SafeWork NSW was called to the Builder’s Club early this morning, after the crane crashed down on top of a newly constructed part of the building.
The construction site on the corner of Campbell and Church streets was shut down a short time later, after investigations by both SafeWork and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) were launched.
CFMEU union organiser Anthony Dimitriou described the situation as a “freak accident”, but said investigators weren’t yet sure of what caused the crane to tip.
“We saw the crane the 130 tonne of crane had lost its footing and fallen onto the building,” he said.
“The matter is still under investigation to see how it happened.”
A driver was operating the crane at the time it tipped, and South Coast Labor Council secretary Arthur Rorris said it was lucky he, and all of the other site workers weren’t hurt.
“You have a look at the site as it is now, with a crane’s fall only being stopped by a brick wall, one would hate to think what would have happened if that wall wasn’t there,” he said.
A witness said that after the crane had tipped, workers rushed to the drivers aid, propping a ladder up to the window so he could climb out of the cab.
While the Builder’s Club is still operating as usual, Mr Dimitriou said the part of the building hit by the crane was likely to have suffered major structural damage. .
“It’ll cause a major setback,” he said. “The builders are still assessing it at this stage.”
The crane, which is owned and operated by WGC Cranes, is still in the precarious position, likely to stay that way until WorkSafe finishes their investigations. Mr Dimitriou said the retrieval phase would be difficult, and that two cranes would be needed to pull the collapsed one off the building.
The site will remain at a stop work until SafeWork advises both WGC Cranes and New England Constructions of the next steps.
The incident comes after the state’s peak work safety body launched a crackdown on cranes and construction sites last month.
SafeWork NSW had advised developers that any sites using tower cranes on their properties should expect a visit from inspectors, who checked crane safety systems and ensured that loads were not being suspended or moved over the heads of workers or the public.